Goalscorer

First game for AC Milan, when the whole world was still waiting to see what this young Brazilian striker was all about? Goal.

First game for the Brazilian national team? Yes, you guessed it. Goal.

Naturally, it doesn’t mean much. It’s fun for the media, who get to hype him up, and it’s even more fun for the fans, who will have sweet dreams just imagining what he can do in 90 minutes.

However, both fans and the media will have to remember that Pato wasn’t exactly brilliant at AC Milan and has struggled with the Seleção in the past.

In reality, all it shows is that Pato is a goalscorer and a really good finisher, which we already knew. He was given much more space than a forward of his caliber should be able to get (notice how the defender obviously missed his assignment on that play), took a hard shot with his right leg, and finally completed the goal with a precise, one-touch, left-footed strike.

The goal was exactly what any coach would want to see from a striker: The opportunity presented itself, and he put it in the back of the net.

Tough Competition

Kaz Photography/Getty ImagesEmerson has a thing or two to say about Pato's starting spot

Because Pato played in Europe, some feel that it will be a matter of time until the young forward becomes a starter at the Brazilian club.

Sunday’s match proved that will not be an easy task.

Pato has to compete with the likes of Danilo, Emerson, Jorge Henrique and Douglas, all important figures in Corinthians’ scheme and already crowd-favorites, as they were present for the club’s latest titles.

Guerrero is seen in his home country of Peru as one of the premier strikers in the world, and for good reason. He owns Corinthians’ No. 9 shirt and will not let go of it so fast. He showed in Corinthians’ 5-0 win that Pato’s best hopes to be a starter in his new team are to play alongside him.

That is, not as the No. 9.

In the Brazilian national team, Pato was getting used to playing inside the box often, serving as the point of reference for the offense. With Guerrero in the team, Pato will have to re-adapt his game to the wings, where he thrived at Internacional and AC Milan.

That means learning how to come back to defense and attack the other team’s offensive players, which Pato has never done before.

For Pato, the choice is to either become a more complete player, rather than the offensive-minded one he is now, or else get really, really acquainted with the bench.